What type of RV?

[gpeluso]

What type or class of RV can I get away with? I have an enclosed 24ft standard trailer that I put a miata or 2nd Gen RX7... What type can anyone recommend? Thinking about not leasing a F250 next time and getting something I could save on hotels with and maybe use with my family.

Thanks,
Greg

[titanium]

Greg,
I have a 33ft Gulfstream Ultra 'Super C', which uses the GMC 'Kodiak' C5500 Medium-Duty truck chassis.
It has a towing capacity of 10,000lbs and is available with a Duramax Diesel or 8.1 gas engine. Either engine is backed by the Allison transmission.http://www.gulfstreamcoach.com/ultra...perc/index.htm

They are priced no more that 'van-based' C's, and other manufactures are now using the same chassis. (Jayco, Four-Winds)

[gpeluso]

Rodney,
What is a good price new and used?

Thanks,
greg

[chuck baader]

There are some excellent older high end models for sale....I have one.

For towing, consider only diesel, and for my money, a pusher. 300hp is about minimal, and you are ahead with the Cummings 8.3. Check the online listings and look/drive before you buy...[pictures are very deceiving) Good luck, Chuck

[benspeed]

I just made the same move. I had a 26 foot enclosed and was pulling a total of about 9,000 lbs. Sold the enclosed and bought an open 16 foot trailer with a tire rack and storage box. Then bought a 1995 Class A motor home with 55K miles for $9400 (not a misprint-insane deals out there). It's in awesome shape and has the banks power pack and transmission controller. Ford 460 EFI and 4 speed. Things I added were new tires and I had the frame reinforced and a 10,000 hitch installed plus the brake controller. Had a trucking repair shop do an total inspection of the unit - has a new trans and new brakes - nice bonus.

Total cost for this setup:

MH $9400
Trailer $1700
Tires $1000
Hitch etc $1400

Total $13,500

Got $7750 for the enclosed so total cash out was $5750

Moving to a motor home will make chilling at the track way more fun - especially in bad weather. Park the race car under the massive MH awning. Don't need the enclosed because the MH has plenty of basement storage and I have storage and the tire rack. My only worry is toungue weight on the rear tires - I will be at the max. Already weighed the MH and trailer at some truck stop scales. If I see abnormally high temps on the rear tires I will buy a trailer toad which is a mini trailer extension off the back of the MH with tires that the trailer attaches to. Those are about $2000.

A Class A deisel pusher is really the way to go but beware of the $10K deisel. You will have to spend about $20-25K to find a deisel that will not be a mess and even that is a Walmart price.

If you keep the enclosed - you really have to go deisel to be safe.

[titanium]

They are priced 'all over the place' right now.
The diesel tend to command around a $20K premium over the gas.
I have the gas and have never found it lacking for power, even on I-75 in Georgia and Tennessee.
I found mine on ebay, but you can shop and do research at http://www.rv.net/
They have a large classified section and the forums there are a good place to see the strengths and weaknesses of different models and manufactures.

They only started using this chassis in the ~2004 year, so you wont find any as cheap as benspeed's Class A, but the deals are out there.

[JoshS]

My only worry is toungue weight on the rear tires - I will be at the max. Already weighed the MH and trailer at some truck stop scales. If I see abnormally high temps on the rear tires I will buy a trailer toad which is a mini trailer extension off the back of the MH with tires that the trailer attaches to. Those are about $2000.

Any web links for one of those toads? I've never seen one.